“Static?”
“No, Jude. Not static.”
“Fuck.”
“No shit.” I suck in a few deep breaths and wait for the nausea to pass, then finally stand up straight again. “There’s something we’re missing here. Something about her past—about her origins. I can feel it.”
“You still think we’re dealing with some sort of unformed fae entity?”
“That’s what my gut says. I just don’t know whether it’s attached to her, or…”
“Or what?”
“Or part of her.”
Jude closes his eyes, cursing under his breath. When he looks at me again, his eyes blaze with determination, his jaw set. “One thing at a time, mate. Right now—”
“Yeah, I know. I’m with you.” I nod, knowing exactly where his head is at. “You get those names?”
“Jacob Pomeroy, Alonzo Florentine, and some tosser called Full Metal Jacket. Name like that, I’m sure he’s left a trail of achievements.”
“Should make him easy to track.”
“Assuming they’re all shadow magic society pricks, they’re likely still in the city. Won’t be hard for Rook to find out where they live and work. Then I can make my move.”
“Wecan makeourmove. We’re in this together, brother.”
“You know it’s gonna get ugly, right?”
“Burning down the world for our girl? Worth it.”
“No, Augs. We’re not going to burn down the world. We’re just going to burnthem.”
I follow him down the stairs and into the study for one last drink before bed. Pouring us both a glass of whiskey, I say, “Honestly, I kind of prefer the organs-on-the-outside idea.”
He takes his drink and glares at me. “You’re still not touching the bone saw.”
“Fair enough. Just promise me one thing.”
“Name it.”
“Those fuckers donotget out of this alive.”
He flashes his most terrifying, completely unhinged grin, his eyes alight with the promise of violence. “Not only will they not get out of this alive, but we’ll be making their final moments sobloodyexcruciating they’ll leave a trail of tears and piss all the way to hell.”
I lift my glass and nod. “Cheers to that, brother. Cheers to that.”
Chapter Six
WESTLYN
Your little games are merely delaying the inevitable. You belong to me, witch…
I awaken with a strangled gasp, my naked body slick with sweat, my heart thundering as if I’ve been running marathons in my sleep.
You belong to me, witch…
The cruel voice bounces around my skull, and I swear I still feel a presence around me, touching me,smotheringme like some kind of sleep paralysis demon.
